Clutch



C. B. SPASE Feb. 19, 1935.

CLUTCH Filed March 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

'11; mini-1711 A TTORNE Y.

- Patented Feb. 19, 1 935: r

.v t l 1,991,709,; 1 {I i CLUTCH Y 7 Charles B. Spase, Syra'cuse,:N. Yswas'signor to Brown-Lipe Gear Company, Syracuse; N. Y a corporation of New York p I Application March 10, 1928; Serial No. 26Q,591 r 13 Claims'. (cl'. 192-458) This invention relates tofrictionclutches such transmitting the torque from the disk 1 to the as are used in motor vehicles and has for its hubs or from thefhubd to the'plate 1. These object a clutch member or section embodying a spring'means are here shown as laminated'springs particularly'simple and eflicient resilient means or resilient'leaf spring elements, or'spring bun through which the torque is. transmitted and also dles, extendingoutwardlyrelative1y to the hub 5 aparticularly simple, economical, compact and and ha'ving theirends seated or secured in the durable construction of such clutch member.- recesses or sockets- These'springs fit at like ends The invention consistsin the novel features comparatively snugly in the recesses or sockets and constructions andcombinations hereinafter and are loose enough at their other ends to tune; set forth and claim ed. f V In describing this-invention referenceis had to plate 1 andhub 4"; 7 The hub extends at its ends the accompanying. drawings in which like charbeyond opp'osite sides ofthe disk, and the disk acters designate corresponding parts in all the has at least'one ring defining theopening therein views, 7 for receivingxthe hub. t 15 Figure 1 is a-rear elevation, partly broken away, In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, 15 of thisclutch member. i v V 9 'ij the recessesor sockets'and springs are normally Figure 2 is a sectional viewjon line 2--2', Figarranged radiallyfwith respect to the axis-of the urel. l I hub. I ,g; If t Figure; is an edge view of the detached'socket 7 designatesthe recesses in the hub, these being member associated with the plate or web of the provided an xt riiaf'a u flange 3 0n the 20 clutch member. 7 I V v hubfandbeing in thejform of, notchesopening Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the plate through 'opposite sides of ,the flange.

member. r 1 9"Idesign'ates' the recesses or sockets provided on Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a com-I the plate'or'disk 1, these sockets or recessesbeing plete clutch embodying this clutchmember. usually formed bycorrugations or offsetsin an 25 This clutch member comprises generally ahub, element" 10 secured as by rivets llto one side of a disk plate or web mounted on the hub and cathedisk ,1. I i 1 pable of limited angular movement or'movenient This" element '10 is a sheet metal ring lying about the hub. and resilient means-interposed .beflatwise on the plate or disk 1 with thecorrugatween'the plate and hub to transmit thei'tbrqu'e tions at regular intervals. This ring 10 as well 30' from. one to the other. r I .as the'fplate l is formed of sheet metal and the I have here shown my inventionasembodied ringflfl stiffens the plate or disk 1. There are in the driven member of a, single plateiclutch, p e ah y'a plurali y ofispringsalthough, Obvithat is,'in the single plate member of .a clutch; ously,'j'but one spring means may be used.

1 designates the p1ate,'disk or web having'f'r'icll2 designates the springs each of which con- 35 ticn ringsz on opposite sides ofits outer margin; Sists'ofa number'qflaminations fitti g comparthe friction rings being secured to the plate or ativelysnugly'at theirinnerends in the recesses disk 1 by rivet 3 or notches 7; The springs are held from endwise .4 is the hub, this being mounted on the clutch splace en by lips 13 turned 0V6! 011 the Outer 4o shaft: in any wellknown manner, which'shaft is end ofthe springsg The plateor disk 1 lies flat- 40 usually the stem of a stemgear of a transmis wise against one side of theflange 8 andencloses sion gearing. The hub is-here shown as provided one sideof each recess or notch 7. A closure disk with integralsplines 5 for interfitting with comor ring 14 lies flatwise againstthe other side of plemental splines on the clutch shaft.v The hub the flange 8 and closes each recess 7. Thisreand parts carried thereby are shiftable axially cess with its sides closed forms a socket for re- 45 to engage and disengage the clutch by'any suit ceiving the inner end; of; the springv 12. Lamiable throw-outmechanism, the clutch spring actnai ed, springs, are used because the inherent ing against the throw-out mechanism to hold the characteristic of laminated springs is that the clutch engaged. leaves Tori laminations, being separate pieces,

The hub 4 is provided with angularly spaced veia relativ slipp m v m n in the 50 open. recesses. orsockets opening outwardly, and flexing of the laminationsjas the leaves are sep- Vthe disk or plate 1 is provided with. recesses or arable throughout their length from each other, sockets opening inwardly andalined with the or capable of slipping throughout their length recesses in the hub. Spring or resilient means relatively to each other,iwhile being in frictional .are located the alined sockets or recesses for engagement 55 tio'nduring: relativerotation within limits of the 10 ed to the disk and straddling the outer ends of V the resilient elements, or laminated springs, and connecting the disk to said elements, or springs, which means is offset laterally from the plane of the disk and forms pockets for the outer ends of the laminated springs; I

The flange 8 and disk 1 are held inposition by fastening means as rivets 15 extending through the closure disk 14, the flange 8 and a ring 16 overlying the inner margin of the disk 1. In order that the disk 1 may be capable of a limited relative movement, it is formed'at-its inner mar gin with cut-outs or slots 17 through which the fastening means or rivets 15 extend. Inorder to.

prevent the ring .16 from clamping the inner margin of the disk, the hub is formed with a shoulder 18 at the base of the flange 8 against which the ring, 16 thrusts and also the ring is prevented fromclamping the margin of the disk 1 by spacing shoulders '19 on, the rivets 15, the shoulders 19 thrusting against the, flange 8.] In Figure 5, acomplete clutch is shown in which A is the driving member, B theclutch shaft, C the throw-out collar, D the clutch spring, E the motion transmittingleversliortransmitting movement of the throw-out] collar and. clutch 30 spring to'the pressure ring F which presses the disk againstthe'drivin'g member Aorthe bottom of thereces's therein in which the driven member of the clutch is located.

In operation, during theftransmission of the torque, the springs 12 are free to bend or yield slightly and thus cushion the'torque either when the clutch is being let in, or during quick acceleration, or when the engine is being driven or cranked from the propeller shaft', that is when the clutch is let in while the vehicle is coasting. Furthermore the torque is cushioned during constantlyvarying resistances on the, drive wheels of the vehicle resulting from obstructions and unevenness in, the, road. f I

Thisclutch member is particularly'advanta geous in that it is simple, compact and economical in construction and consists of a minimum'flum ber of parts.

WhatIclaimis: j 1. A clutch member for friction clutches Com prising a hub havingaperipheral fla'ngeformed with a recess, a plate mounted on the hub against said flange and closing'one side of therecessj'the plate being providedwith an elemento'n one side thereof formed with a 'recess enclosing a. socket opening toward and alined with the recess in the flange of the hub, a closure member secured to the hub for closing the outerside of the recess in'the flange, andfspring means having their ends located' respectively in said alined recesses. f

2. Afclutchmem'ber'for friction clutches comprising a hub having a peripheral flange'formed with a recess, a plate mountedon the hub against said flangeand enclosing one side of the recess, the plate having, an element on one side thereof formed ;Wlth a corrugation enclosing afsocket opening toward and alined with the recess in the flange of the hub, a closure member, secured to the hub for closing the outer side of the recess in the flange, and spring means having their ends located respectivelyin said recesses..

3. A clutch member for friction clutches comprising a hub having a peripheral flange formed with a recess, a plate mounted on the hub and capable of limited movement about the same,

the plate lying against one side of the flange and enclosing one side of the recess, the plate having a ring mounted on one side thereof formed with an offsetcorrugationenclosing a socket alined ,with the'recess in said flange, a ring mounted on the hub enclosing the outer side of the. recess in the flange and forming a socket on the hub,

and. spring means having 'itsends located'in' said I sockets. y

I 4. A clutch member for friction clutches com-j prising a hub'formed with an external annular flange, a shoulder at-the base of the flange, the "flange being formed with a recess opening through its periphery and its sides, a plate mounted on the hub and 'lying against one side of the flange closing oneside 'ofthe recess, the plate having a member'mounted; on one side thereof and having an offset corrugated portion providing a socket alined-with the recess in the flange, a. spring,

structure having its ends located mule, o eteoi and the recess, a ring mounted on" the1 hub and f abutting against said shoulder 'andlying'againsti the inner margin of .thef plate, fasecond ring 1 means extending through the first ring; thegflangel and the second ring'having a spacing meansffor mounted on the hub and arrangedtoclose the other side of the recess" m the'flanga fastening 2t preventing thefirst ring from :ciamping'theplate' tightly against the flange. a

5. Ina friction clutch, a'transmitting member comprising a hub, a friction ring, mounting-means for therifng. alostmotion' connectionbetween the mounting means [and the hubfor holding the mounting means againstaxial displacement with respect to thehub, and a driving connection between said mounting rne ans'and said hub: in-

eluding a laminated spring normally extending radially relativelyto the hub and the ring, the hubandthe mounting having alined sockets and the spring being mounted'in thesocket ofthe hub andgextending into thesocket of the mount-' ing, the laminations lyingflatwise on each other in frictional engagement and fulcrumingion op posite edges of the socket the hub during fle1;,- ing upon; a relative torsional movement or the hub and themounting.

p 6. A clutch construction including a hub, 1 'mounted on the'hub, means connecting thelq sc to the hub for rotary movementirelative thereto;

and preventing axial displacement of the with respect 'to the hub, other connecting means 'be-"' tween the; disc and hub including a plurality oi resilient elements mounted radially the, and projecting outwardly therefrom, and I means connected to the'disc and straddling the outersaid elements.

'7. A clutch construction including a; hub, a

disc mounted on the hub, means connectingthe disc to the hub for rotary ;movernent relative theretoand preventing axial displacement ofthe disc with respect to the hubjother connecting meansTbetween the disc and hubincluding a.

. a V as; ends of said elements and connecting the disc f,"

through its periphery, a disc mountedpn the am means connecting the disc to-the' hub for rotary movementrelative thereto and preventing axial:

displacement of the disc with respect-to the hub;

other connecting means between the disc and hub including spring bundles mounted in the pockets and extending outwardly from the same, and means on the disc and extending out of the plane of the disc for forming pockets for receiving the outer ends of the spring bundles, said means extending laterally from the disc.

9. In a clutch, the combination of a hub, a disc mounted on the hub, the hub being provided with a flange formed with pockets open through its opposite sides and through its periphery, spring bundles mounted in the pockets and extending outwardly therefrom, means on the disc and 01E- 7 set from the plane thereof for straddling the outer ends of the bundles, and additional means for securing the disc to the hub for relative rotary movement and for preventing axial displacement of the disc with respect to the hub, said securing means also closing the sides of the pockets.

10 In a clutch, the combination of a hub, a

disc mounted on the hub andconcentric therewith, the hub being formed with pockets open at their outer ends, the pockets extending out of the plane of the disc, spring bundles mounted in the pockets and extending outwardly therefrom, means connecting the disc to the hub for rotary movement relative thereto and preventing axial displacement of the disc with respect to the hub, other connecting means between the discand hub including means on the disc and extending out of the plane of the disc for receiving and straddling the outer ends of the bundles; H

11. A transmitting element for use in a clutch which comprises a hub having a plurality of angularly spaced open recesses, a plurality of resilient leaf spring elements each having a portion seated in a recess and another portion lying exposed outside the recess, a disc having an opening through which the hub extends, said hub having its ends extending on opposite sides of said disc and said disc including at least one ring defining said opening and having recesses adjacent said opening andformed at least in part in, said ring, there being a recess for each spring element in which recess the exposed portion of said spring element is received, means for securing the disc to the hub while permitting the projecting outwardly beyond said recess, a disc having a central opening through which the hub extends, the hub having its ends extending on opposite sides of said disc and the disc having recesses adjacent said opening for receiving the outer ends of said spring elements, means securing the hub and disc together and preventing their complete separation while permitting them a limited degree of relative angular movement, said spring elements being flexed in and resisting jsaid movement, and friction material carried by said disc.

' -13. A power transmitting element adapted to absorb and dampen vibrations received from a driving element which comprises a hub having a plurality of angularly spaced open recesses, a plurality -of resilient leaf spring elements, each having a portion seated in a'recess and another portion lying exposed outside the recess, a disk having an opening through which the hub extends, said hub having its ends extending on opposite sides of said disc' and said disk being secured loosely to said hub to have a limited freedom of angular movement relative thereto and having recesses, each for receiving the exposed portion of a spring element, said spring elements resisting relative angular movement of the disk and hub, and means independent of said spring elements limiting the relative angular movement of the disk and hub. V 7 CHARLES B. SPASE. 

